RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM January Exhibitions, Programs, and Events

The Walt Disney Family Museum always offers some amazing exhibits and programs. If you're in the area, I would urge you to stop in and enjoy the Museum and everything it has to offer.

I reviewed the amazing book, the Fairest One of All by J Kaufman at Mice Chat.

RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM

January Exhibitions, Programs, and Events

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic

Now through April 14, 2013 | Special Exhibition Hall

Special ticket price for Snow White: $10 general | Special combination ticket which includes general museum admission: $25 adults; $20 seniors and students; $15 children ages 6 to 17.

On view through April 14, 2013, The Walt Disney Family Museum’s special exhibition celebrates Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The exhibition showcases more than 200 works of art including conceptual drawings, early character studies, detailed story sketches, and animation drawings. Also featured are delicate thumbnail layout watercolors, meticulously rendered pencil layouts, rare watercolor backgrounds, colorful cels, and vintage posters all illustrating how Walt Disney advanced the creation of an entirely new art form.

Generous support provided by Wells Fargo.

Between Frames: The Magic Behind Stop Motion Animation

Now through April 28, 2013 | Theater Gallery

Free for members or with Museum admission

Between Frames explores the evolution of stop motion animation in the United States in special effects, television, and film. The exhibition highlights behind-the-scenes photographs, rare armatures and puppets, and original storyboards from cult favorite films and television including King Kong, Gumby, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Robot Chicken, and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and showcases stop motion innovators like Ray Harryhausen, Phil Tippett, Will Vinton, Tim Burton, Henry Selick, and more.

SCREENINGS + DISCUSSIONS

Film of the Month: Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Screens 1/1–31, daily at 1:30pm (except Tuesdays and 1/19) | Theater

Free for members or with Museum admission | Without Museum admission: $7 adult; $5 youth

Additional screening: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Screens 1/1–31, daily at 4pm (except Tuesdays and 1/19) | Theater

Free for members or with Museum admission | Without Museum admission: $7 adult; $5 youth

The Disney Classics: Preserving Walt’s Vision

Saturday, January 19 | 3pm | Theater

General: $20 adult; $15 youth | Members: $18 adult; $14 youth

Perhaps no other film library showcases Americana more than the one created by The Walt Disney Studios. Ever careful to preserve this collection for future generations to enjoy, the Disney Studios has maintained the pioneering spirit of Walt’s dedication to exploring new technologies.

Theodore Gluck, the Studios’ Director of Library Restoration and Preservation, will present an exclusive look inside the processes used to bring these beloved films to a contemporary world. Starting with the development of Technicolor and continuing through the early days of CinemaScope, Gluck will demonstrate the challenges now faced by the Studio Restoration Team as they work to restore these world-renowned films to their original splendor.

(This program is presented in conjunction with the Museum’s feature exhibition, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic).

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

Look Closer

Friday–Sunday, January 25–27

11am, 1 & 3pm | Between Frames exhibition | Free with paid special exhibition admission

Hear expert highlights of our special exhibition, Between Frames: The Magic Behind Stop-Motion Animation.

CLASSES + ACTIVITIES

Learn from the Masters Series: The Conservation and Preservation of Animation Cels with Martin Salazar (Lecture and Tour)

Saturday, January 19 | 10am–noon | Learning Center and Special Exhibition Hall

General: $40 adult; $30 student (valid student ID required) | Members: $35

Drawing from The Walt Disney Family Museum’s collection of priceless Disney animation cels, Museum art conservator Martin Salazar will discuss how these cels were first created, explain the causes of cel deterioration, and demonstrate techniques he has developed to care for these treasures. Salazar will also discuss the ethical challenges faced by institutions when attempting to preserve fragile artifacts. The lecture will conclude with a guided tour of the Museum’s first major exhibition, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic. Salazar will be assisted by Museum conservation technician Harvey Newman.

This class is for participants ages 18+, all levels of experience. Space is limited. Registration required. Email: education@wdfmuseum.org to register or for more info.

Learn from the Masters Series: Stop Motion Puppet Construction with Ruben Esqueda (Class)

Saturday, January 26 | 10am–1pm | Learning Center

General: $55 adult; $35 student (valid student ID required) | Members: $45

Ruben Esqueda, independent filmmaker and animation mentor since 1998, will lead a hands-on four-hour master class for animators at all levels of experience. Participants will learn the process of building a professional quality stop motion puppet armature, which will be ready for use in animation by the end of the class. Participants will also learn other types of puppet construction including wood, ball and socket, and prefabricated toy puppet armatures. The class will involve the use of wire-cutting materials and epoxy, so comfortable dress is recommended.

This class is for participants ages 18+, all levels of experience. Space is limited. Registration required. Email: education@wdfmuseum.org to register or for more info.

Open Studio

Saturday–Sunday, January 5–6, & 12–13

1–3pm | Learning Center | Free for members or with Museum admission

Create stop motion animation in our Media Studio and try your hand at two early steps of creating an animated film—storyboards and concept art—in our Art Studio.

Rolly Crump and Bob Gurr Books Giveaway!

Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online show™) is giving away two books by two amazing Imagineers.

• It's Kind of a Cute Story by Rolly Crump as told to Jeff Heimbuch
• Design: Just for Fun by Bob Gurr

Both books are fantastic and should be in your book collection. Here's your chance to win both books!


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Rolly Crump Book Available

It's Kind of a Cute Story by Rolly Crump as told to Jeff Heimbuch

My co-host on Communicore Weekly and partner in Disney Shenanigans™ has just released the book he wrote with Disney Legend Rolly Crump. Rolly helped design the Enchanted Tiki Room, it's a small world and parts of the Haunted Mansion.

I reviewed the book in this week's Communi Weeki Geeki Freaki Tiki Room themed episode of Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online Show™).


You can also grab the iTunes link here.

Pumpkins on Main St and Spooky Communicore Weekly

Mice Chat Article

Pumpkins on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom!

Check out my article at Mice Chat detailing the amazing pumpkins.

Halloween Edition of Communicore Weekly

• The history of the Museum of the Weird.
• The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies -- Updated by Jason Surrell.
• Is Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World haunted?
• A towering Five Legged Goat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D8ap8zxtk8

Pete's Dragon Giveaway!

We've got a copy of Pete's Dragon on Blu-ray to give away!

All you need to do to enter is like one of the Facebook pages that we've listed in the Rafflecopter giveaway. See the Rafflecopter contest for rules and details.

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Blu-ray Review: Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3

This has been dictated from Sumner, my youngest son.

The latest Papi adventure is available on Blu-ray. This is the 3^rd movie so far. It’s like everything is happening that each human and each dog has dreamed about.  

There are lots of parts where I laughed out loud, especially when the little pups are on the screen. There is great music that you can sing or dance to and the video with Raini from Austin & Ally is on the DVD in English and Spanish. In the end they all realize that family is what matters.

There are great bloopers and a short with Papi so you can see what he does during the day. This movie is good for boys and girls of all ages, but I think teenagers might think it is silly.

I didn’t really edit it much…it is HIS review.

Private Practice Review

If you ever wonder why the Imaginerd wanted to review the Private Practice DVD…wonder no more. His “Imagiwife” forces him to watch the show and get the DVD’s for me to watch completely before the premiere.

I enjoy the DVD set for many reasons. I get to refresh my memory on everything that transpired over the last season. Pete’s decision, Violet’s inconsistent emotion, Amelia’s new burden, Sheldon’s continued unrequited affections, Cooper and Charlotte’s new lives as parents, the emotional trio (Addison, Sam and the new guy, Jake).

I have to add that KaDee Strickland has quickly become one of the most impressive actresses that I have ever watched. She is dynamic, adaptable and becomes her character.

The bonus of the set is last season’s deleted scenes and the thoughts of the actors/actresses. It is always interesting to see the pieces that were removed for time constraints and being able to go “Hmmm that adds this perspective” or “I can see why that was cut”. The thoughts and comments about the addition of infants, toddlers and children to the set are entertaining.

If you are a fan, it is worth owning the set. Accessing the episodes online just doesn’t provide the entire experience.

Bonus Features:
The Practice of Parenthood – The pitter-patter of little feet found its way onto the set this past season in a number of ways. In this exclusive feature, fans can listen in as the cast of the hit series discusses filming with the young actors during the fifth season.
Deleted Scenes – Through these deleted scenes, fans will learn even more about their favorite characters from the hit series.
Bloopers – Fans will laugh out loud at a hilarious blooper reel of the season’s most funny on-set moments.

WorldKey Kiosks at Mice Chat!

Head on over to Mice Chat to check out my latest article about the WorldKey Kiosks at Epcot Center. There isn't much information on the web, so I had to dig up information from older cast member publications and some promotional videos.

Poster Art of Disney Parks

I got my copy of the Poster Art of the Disney Parks by Danny Handle and Vanessa Hunt. Of course, I'll post a full review over at Mice Chat, but I wanted to share a few images of this amazing book!

The book is spectacular! Get your copy before they go out of print.

I spoke to Disney Publishing Worldwide and they are already on the second printing!

Walt Disney World Map and Communicore Weekly

Don't you love Disney maps?

Over at my latest Mice Chat column, I take an in-depth look at a 1971 Walt Disney World map that was featured in one of my favorite WDW books, The Story of Walt Disney World: A Commemorative Edition. This map was also in the hotel rooms of the Polynesian and Contemporary.

I pulled the image above from a video about U.S. Steel that I featured on this page about the construction of the Contemporary Resort.

Communicore Weekly

On this week's show, Jeff and I discuss King Arthur's Carrousel at Disneyland--did you know about this unique attraction's history? I review Walt Disney. We debate the merits of riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad during the day or night and Jeff offers an interesting tidbit. Jeff also covers a Five Legged Goat from Splash Mountain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74A_jU9_V-Y

Time Travel with Communicore Weekly!

Communicore Weekly travels through time!

On this week's show, we have a special guest star to help us introduce the show. He also lets us use his TARDIS...

Jeff and I travel back to the past to look at TimeKeeper. I review Our Friend the Atom in my Book of the Week segment. We look at some bathrooms of Tomorrowland and a Five Legged Goat of Tomorrrow.

Communicore Weekly Giveaway!

You can enter to win the Chimpanzee Blu-ray Combo Pack and the hardcover book Chimpanzee: The Making of the Film.

You can get one entry for liking the Communicore Weekly Facebook page. You get five entries for watching the latest episode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-sm25NTi4I) and entering the secret phrase from the video. The contest ends Friday, August 31, 2012.

Good luck!


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Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Disney Blu-ray Reviews, Toy Story Book

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-sm25NTi4I

We had a lot of fun with this week's Communicore Weekly. Jeff and I look at the history of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland and we review some of the new Blu-ray releases from Disney. For my book of the week, I share The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey and Jeff shares a Five Legged Goat from Mr. Toad.

Don't forget to subscribe to the MiceTube channel so you will know when the latest episodes are uploaded!

New Disney Blu-ray Releases!

Disney has releases a slew of movies to Blu-ray! Some are pretty exciting and some are...well...some are not very exciting.

• Disneynature: Chimpanzee - is pretty spectacular, heartwarming and charming. A full review is coming.

• Pocahontas is reason enough to buy this Blu-ray set. The movie is gorgeous, the songs are fantastic and it is a fun film. Pocohantas II was a terrible film that should never have been made. I can't figure out why Disney included it. If nothing, it will only serve to hurt sales. Check out our review over at Mice Chat.

• TThe Rescuers (35th Anniversary Edition) / The Rescuers Down Under is a wonderful combo pack. It is quite amazing to see the difference in animation over the course of 13 years.

• The Aristocats - This film has always been a favorite of my boys. I enjoy the broad humor, but the real enjoyment comes from the fantastic songs penned by the Sherman Brothers.

• Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamps Adventure - I can't figure out how and why this film made it to Bu-ray. Granted, I haven't watched it yet...

So, are you looking forward to any of these films?

Picture Spots, Dreamfinder and Communicore Weekly!

Hang out anytime at ImagiNERDing and you will see that I do like some of the geekier spots, including the Kodak Picture Spots. Check out my latest ImagiNERDing article at Mice Chat about the picturesque Picture Spots.

Jeff and I review Ron Schneider's book From Dreamer to Dreamfinder at Mice Chat. This is definitely a must buy for every Disney fan.

Communicore Weekly

For this week's episode, Jeff and I tackle Discovery Island, the latest news about Walt Disney World's NEW Executive Producer Kathy Mangum and a dark and mysterious Five Legged Goat. For my Book of the Week, I review Disneyland Resort Then, Now and Forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97IhwD3uxOM

Pixar Commercials as Silly Symphonies

I just received a preview copy of The Toy Story Films: An Animated Journey by Charles Solomon.

Even though I am barely 50 pages into it, I can tell that it is going to be fantastic. The artwork is gorgeous and acclaimed animation historian Charles Solomon really brings a lot to the Toy Story, um, story.

I ran across this quote on page 30 from Pete Docter and thought it tied in very nicely with the evolution of the early Disney animated shorts, except on a slightly different path. Pixar, in its earlier days, stayed afloat financially by doing a lot of commercial work.

"All these different products moved in different ways," adds animator Pete Docter. "So We tried to think, ‘How would a Life Saver move?’ The commercials became our equivalent of the Silly Symphonies, training us not only in movement, camera, and lighting, but in economy of storytelling. We wanted to tell some sort of story, not just cut product shots together. It showed us what we could do in thirty seconds."

Are you looking for other Disney book releases?

Check out my Mice Chat article on upcoming Disney-related books!

Carsland Giveaway!

We are participating in a giveaway with some other great sites.

This is another Rafflecopter giveaway with eight chances to win! You can click to like each site's Facebook page. Even if you are already a fan, you can still click like and it will add your vote. You have to click on each page in order to win

The giveway starts Friday August 10th at 12:01 a.m. and goes through August 17th. Included in the giveaway is a Cars flag, Disney California Adventure Mickey Ears, and a set of Disneyland poscards.

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Hidden Mickey Watch in the Rescuers

In one of the opening scenes of the upcoming Blu-ray release of the 35th Anniversary Edition of The Rescuers, there is a Mickey Mouse watch hanging from the wall of the Rescue Aid Society.

Originally released in 1977, this animated classic is a great family film and was one of the last two films released before Eisner and Wells took over the reigns of the Company.

Disney Links and Communicore Weekly (Western River Expedition)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQyfKa0qUOU

This week, Jeff and I tackle the Western River Expedition--how it developed and what happened! We do a tag team review of Ron Schneider's book From Dreamer to Dreamfinder: A Life and Lessons Learned in 40 Years Behind a Name Tag. Speaking of Dreamfinder, what about a Five Legged Goat from Journey Into Your Imagination? We also take a peek at a pretty fascinating Window.

Don't forget to check out my articles over at Mice Chat!

• At ImagiNERDing, I write about some interesting book titles that you might have missed at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
• In The Disney Review column, I take a look at a recent Walt Disney World book release. Does it stack up?

Now, on with some of the best links from the past week or so!

• Foxxfur at Passport2Dreams discusses show buildings and the magic of making them disappear..sort of.
• David at FutureProbe follows up Foxx's article with one about Epcot.
• Todd at the Disney History Institute posts about building the House of the Future.
• Ryan at the Main St. Gazette shares a fantastic pre-opening EPCOT Center Collectible.
• Long-Forgotten Haunted Mansion theorizes on the Gargoyles.
• Jennifer at Broke Hoedown posts about a unique Disney find at an interesting museum.

New Disney Books

I've had some great (and strange) titles show up at Imaginerding over the past few days. Are there any that you are really looking forward too?

• From Dreamer to Dreamfinder: A Life and Lessons Learned in 40 Years Behind a Name Tag by Ron Schneider (I just finished this one and it is spectacular!)

• A Mary Blair Treasury of Golden Books

• In the Shadow of the Matterhorn: Intimate Stories about Life, Love, and Laughter at Disneyland by David W. Smith

• Disney It's A Small World: Guess Who!

• The Disneyland Encyclopedia by Chris Strodder. I reviewed this amazing Disneyland title over at Mice Chat. Check it out and let me know what you think!

• Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered by Dave Smith. I reviewed this title at Mice Chat. Is it one you are going to pick up?

• Let the Memories Begin: Impressions of the Walt Disney World Resort. I reviewed this book at the Disney Review over at Mice Chat. Check it out and see if it is worth adding to your collection.

Empress Lilly Secrets, Imagineering and Communicore Weekly

I delve deep into the archives this week at Mice Chat to look at some of the secrets of the construction of the Empress Lilly. Most of us know it today as Fulton's Crabhouse at Downtown Disney.

Also, I take a look at one of the essential theme park books that should be in everyone's collection at the Disney Review. You do own this book, right?

Communicore Weekly


Don't forget to subscribe to the MiceTube channel and like Communicore Weekly on Facebook.

This week's Communicore Weekly is pretty enlightening! Jeff and I look at the Main Street Electrical Parade, I review the Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary book, we share a special bathroom break for our four-legged friends and we look at a two and a half legged goat at the Animal Kingdom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q46b6_4lIDw